History Main / EvilReactionary

* ''TabletopGame/FreedomCity'', a tie-in to ''TabletopGame/MutantsAndMasterminds'', has the super-villain "Sky Lord II", a misguided fan of the Centurion rogue who originally bore the moniker of Sky Lord and who ultimately took up villainy himself to fight the "moral decay" he saw overrunning American society from the 60s to the 2000s. It's unclear just when he wants to turn the clock back to - the 1950s or perhaps earlier, maybe closer to the 1900s - but forcing society to go back to "The Good Old Days" is the foundation of his villainous career.

* In ''[[{{Discworld/MenAtArms}} Men at Arms,]]'' Edward D'Eath wants to bring Ankh-Morpork back to the days of aristocracy.** Another Discworld example is the villain in "Discworld/TheFifthElephant", who tries to force the new king of the dwarves of {{Uberwald}} into civil war because they view him as too sympathetic to modern mores. They continue to be major villains until {{Discworld/Thud}} [[spoiler:where they try to destroy evidence that the battle of Koom Valley was an attempt to end the dwarf/troll war]] and Discworld/RaisingSteam, [[spoiler:where they complete the transtition into Islamic terrorist expies]].

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* ''{{Literature/Discworld}}''** In ''[[{{Discworld/MenAtArms}} Men at Arms,]]'' Edward D'Eath wants to bring Ankh-Morpork back to the days of aristocracy.aristocracy. [[spoiler:The man who kills him, the head of the Guild of Assassins, takes up the cause because of the power of the Gonne makes him feel impossible to be beaten]].** Another Discworld example is the villain in "Discworld/TheFifthElephant", who tries to force the new king of the dwarves of {{Uberwald}} into civil war because they view him as too sympathetic to modern mores. They ideals, like socializing with non-Dwarfs and, most heinously trolls, exposing one's self to light (which in a mine could mean a danger while darkness protects), and actually identifying as one specific gender rather than just being a Dwarf. While the main opponent is defeated there, this mentality continue to be major villains until problem for the Low King of the Dwarfs. This mentality leads to the conflicts in {{Discworld/Thud}} [[spoiler:where they try to destroy evidence that the battle of Koom Valley was an attempt to end the dwarf/troll war]] and Discworld/RaisingSteam, [[spoiler:where they complete the transtition transition into Islamic religious terrorist expies]].expies and try an outright coup against the Low King]].

Reason: Let's not be generous to just them. Other religious fanatics exist after all and moving against old, draconian dogma illicits any of their ire, not just those of the Muslim faith.

* In ''WesternAnimation/JackieChanAdventures'', The Royal Magisters want the UK to revert back to some vaguely Victorian time via magic [[AlchemyIsMagic and alchemy]].

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* In ''WesternAnimation/JackieChanAdventures'', The Royal the Brotherhood of Magisters thrived as a ruling secret society during the Dark Ages, and want the UK to revert back to some vaguely Victorian time via magic [[AlchemyIsMagic and alchemy]].alchemy]] so they can regain their lost influence.

Compare EvilLuddite, who resents technological changes rather than societal changes. Though considering they [[TimeMarchesOn go hand in hand]], an overlap is possible. This trope may appear unintentionally in a reactionary fantasy where the protagonist comes across as a DesignatedHero. See also StillFightingTheCivilWar, which occurs when a character is willing to admit that most things have changed, but a particular sociopolitical issue that most people have put behind them is still relevant. May be what a former hero becomes if the progress of society is too great since the former hero's time in the case of OutdatedHeroVsImprovedSociety.

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Compare EvilLuddite, who resents technological changes rather than societal changes. Though considering they [[TimeMarchesOn go hand in hand]], an overlap is possible. This trope may appear unintentionally in a reactionary fantasy where the protagonist comes across as a DesignatedHero. See also StillFightingTheCivilWar, which occurs when a character is willing to admit that most things have changed, but a particular sociopolitical issue that most people have put behind them is still relevant. May be what a former hero becomes if the progress of society is too great since the former hero's time in the case of OutdatedHeroVsImprovedSociety.OutdatedHeroVsImprovedSociety. Contrast TheRevolutionWillNotBeCivilised for the opposite end of the villain spectrum.

* There was a New Orleans ghost like this in ''WesternAnimation/TheRealGhostbusters'' cartoon.

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* There was a New Orleans ghost like this in ''WesternAnimation/TheRealGhostbusters'' cartoon. He was a RealityWarper that turned the whole area that surrounded him back into 1930s Jazz-era New Orleans whenever he played.

** Elsewhere in the New World of Darkness, specifically in the fanmade parts, Clockstoppers in ''TabletopGame/GeniustheTransgression'' are prone to this. Some reject modern technology so passionately that ''[[WalkingTechbane it stops working]]''.

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* Green can slip into this in ''TabletopGame/MagicTheGathering''. Green is the colour that most reveres nature and tradition, believing that the secret to life is to learn your place and stick with it, so it tends to oppose significant change and rejects technology; it's why green has so many artifact destruction spells.

* Church, especially the Roman Catholic Church, was being almost universally depicted as this in Soviet educational and edutainment literature, ruthlessly persecuting scientists and repressing new ideas to retain their tyrannical power. [[StrawmanHasAPoint Not that they didn't actually engage in this]], but the portrayals are grossly exaggerated with sweeping generalizations running rampant.

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* The Church, especially the Roman Catholic Church, was being almost universally depicted as this in Soviet educational and edutainment literature, ruthlessly persecuting scientists and repressing new ideas to retain their tyrannical power. [[StrawmanHasAPoint Not that they didn't actually engage in this]], but the portrayals are grossly exaggerated with sweeping generalizations running rampant.

* General Rumford in ''Literature/{{Victoria}}'' is a heroic example: a political general and Chief of Staff in a mid-21st century state whose take on life, the Universe and everything is best described as that of an early ''19th'' century conservative (atheists should lose their citizenship, women should stay in the kitchen, the French Revolution was [[DirtyCommies pure Bolshevism]], etc.). He also expends tremendous effort imposing these same values on his country, the Northern Confederation. His craziness [[BunnyEarsLawyer actually benefits his nation]], however, since the [[OutsideTheBoxTactic archaic stratagems]] he employs are [[WhoWouldBeStupidEnough never anticipated]] by the Confederation's modernist, high-tech enemies.

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* General Rumford in ''Literature/{{Victoria}}'' is a heroic example: a political general and Chief of Staff in a mid-21st century state whose take on life, the Universe and everything is best described as that of an early ''19th'' century conservative (atheists should lose their citizenship, women should stay in the kitchen, StayInTheKitchen, the French Revolution was [[DirtyCommies pure Bolshevism]], etc.). He also expends tremendous effort imposing these same values on his country, the Northern Confederation. His craziness [[BunnyEarsLawyer actually benefits his nation]], however, since the [[OutsideTheBoxTactic archaic stratagems]] he employs are [[WhoWouldBeStupidEnough never anticipated]] by the Confederation's modernist, high-tech enemies.

* In ''Series/GameOfThrones'', the Sons of the Harpy are a terrorist organization led by aristocratic former slave owners who want to bring back slavery after it is abolished by Daenerys Targaryen.** Some of Daenerys' supporters would qualify as well, since they imagine that restoring House Targaryen to the throne will solve all or most of Westeros' many problems.

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Film-Live Action]]

* In ''Series/GameOfThrones'', the Sons of the Harpy are a terrorist organization led by aristocratic former slave owners who want ''Film/ThorRagnarok'', Hela takes over Asgard to bring back slavery after return it is abolished by Daenerys Targaryen.** Some of Daenerys' supporters would qualify as well, since they imagine that restoring House Targaryen to the throne will solve all or most of Westeros' many problems.its conquering, imperialistic roots.

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[[folder: Live-Action Television ]]

* In ''Series/GameOfThrones'', the Sons of the Harpy are a terrorist organization led by aristocratic former slave owners who want to bring back slavery after it is abolished by Daenerys Targaryen.** Some of Daenerys' supporters would qualify as well, since they imagine that restoring House Targaryen to the throne will solve all or most of Westeros' many problems.

* On ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'', Mr. Burns is a cross between this and a clueless DiscoDan insomuch as he doesn't even ''know'' about many of the most basic amenities of the 21st (or even 20th) century.

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* On ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'', A couple of examples from ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'':** Mr. Burns is a cross between this and a clueless DiscoDan insomuch as he doesn't even ''know'' about many of the most basic amenities of the 21st (or even 20th) century.century.** In the episode "Sideshow Bob's Last Gleaming," [[WickedCultured Sideshow Bob]] seeks to bring Springfield back to [[NewMediaAreEvil the glory days before television]] - [[NukeEm by force if necessary]].

* On ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'', Mr. Burns is a cross between this and a clueless DiscoDan insomuch as he doesn't even ''know'' about many

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* On ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'', Mr. Burns is a cross between this and a clueless DiscoDan insomuch as he doesn't even ''know'' about manymany of the most basic amenities of the 21st (or even 20th) century.

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